3 Tools That Help Me Deal With School As An Absent-Minded Procrastinator
Start writing a post
Student Life

3 Tools That Help Me Deal With School As An Absent-Minded Procrastinator

Bye bye, mind clutter. Hello, good grades.

111
3 Tools That Help Me Deal With School As An Absent-Minded Procrastinator
dbhurley.com

For me, procrastination is not just a bad habit, it's a bad lifestyle.

It's a dark pit I fell into during my early childhood and never really crawled out of because I could just do it tomorrow, right?

When I was high school, procrastination made me turn in an innumerable amount of last-minute essays and project. I still got good grades on them though, so that must have meant that all that frenzied work was actually great for school.

Then I hit college, where I suddenly lost the ability to pull all-nighters and get up early to finish my homework. I actually had to be responsible and manage my time well like a functioning adult if I ever wanted to move forward in life.

While it has been--and continues to be--a slow but steady journey, I've found three tools that help me stay on top of my busy schedule and actually get work done.


1. My Study Life


The ultimate planner designed specifically for students and teachers alike, I discovered MyStudyLife halfway through freshman year and haven't looked back since then. While it does take some time at first to input all the necessary details like your schedule and homework assignments, it pays off to do it all during syllabus week.

My Study Life reminds you when your classes start, which tasks are due within the next three days, and is a cross-platform app for both your computer and your phone.

This has been an academic lifesaver for me since I used to either rely on my memory or scattered reminders written in different notebooks or on my hand to remember my homework. My Study Life neatly puts everything into one place and motivates me to get tasks done ahead of time.

2. My iPhone's default calendar

While the calendar app is pretty standard and somewhat simplistic, it's an effective way for me to keep track of events that are outside my school schedule, whether it's weekly meetings, dental appointments or someone's birthday.

I always make sure to input events right when I hear of them and set two alerts: one for the day before and one for the hour before.

The simpler, the better. And it hasn't failed me yet.

3. My bullet journal

For those who don't know, the bullet journal is an organizational system based on bullet points. While it's made up of core concepts like an index, logs, and simple symbols, it's basically meant to combine a diary, planner, and a to-do list into one journal and is highly customizable.

I started my own bullet journal over the summer to see if I would be able to use it when school began, and I ended up loving it.

It's a process that requires trial and error because my bullet journal is meant to work for me and me alone. While other people might like putting an insane amount of detail into their bullet journals (just look them up on Pinterest or Instagram), mine actually looks a lot like the picture above, except with slightly more cursive and alternating colors for each month.


I've personally found that it's best if I take things one day at a time. While My Study Life and my calendar makes sure that I don't forget what's in the future, my bullet journal keeps me grounded in my day-to-day tasks. The combination of all three tools means that my mind is less stressed out without the burden of having to remember everything that I need to do and defaulting to wanting to put them off.

These are just suggestions, so what works for me might not work for you.

Do you use anything different that helps you stay organized and ready for school?


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70985
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132549
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments